Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
August 5, 2011 (JUBA) – The first sitting of the newly established South Sudan Council of States on Friday elected Joseph Bul Chan at its speaker, during a colourful ceremony that also witnessed the swearing-in of the 50 members appointed though the recently issued presidential decree.
On August 1, South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a declaration establishing and appointing 50 Council of State representatives for the new nation, less than a month after he was sworn-in as its first leader.
The Council currently consists of 20 representatives from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) drawn from all the 10 states of the country, and 30 additional members from “other categories”.
The Council of States, Sudan Tribune has learned, will meet in the Blue Room; one of the designated sections within the assembly.
Meanwhile, president Kiir on Thursday addressed a joint meeting of members from the SPLM political bureau and the Council of State members from the South Sudan’s ruling party. During the meeting, Kiir reportedly reiterated his earlier pledge to form a broad-based government that will effectively deliver services to the people.
He further urged the Council of the States members to work extra hard as South Sudan strives to address the enormous challenges that engulf the new nation citing, poor infrastructure, food insecurity, health shortfalls and political instabilities.
The president, also lauded renegade commander, Peter Gatdet, for his timely response to the amnesty he publicly announced on July 9, saying it was a true indication that even people, who initially rebelled, were committed to the development of the new nation.
On Wednesday, Gadet-led South Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SSLM/A) signed an unconditional ceasefire with the southern government, only for another faction of the rebel movement to emerge and completely distance themselves from the truce.
The Unity State-based rebel movement, their 4 August statement noted, is not affected by the defection of their leader, adding that Gadet and his spokesman, Bol Gatkouth Kol, allegedly had made a unilateral peace with the government in Juba.
The new Council of States, will among others duties, supervise the national reconstruction projects and programs being carried out by national institutions in the states, monitor the implementation of the decentralised systems by the institutions in the states, as well as carry out other functions as stipulated in the country’s transitional constitution.
(ST)
man koryom
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
Gatdet came back to join the the same government he accused as being ran by tribal leaders despite the fact that he was too greedy and those from Khartoum will pay him more. The door to Khartoum is now closed and those political prostitutes had no where to go. Gatdet must be employed as a chef in the kitchen until his troops are completely integrated into South Sudan army forces. After that he must be jail for life in prison. Dr. Nyagat and his Nasir gangsters must be trial too and all nyagat families plus people with traitor background including Dr. DC must be prosecuted. South Sudan must enforce laws & orders. Nuer are good people as I know them since I was born but their leaders are not using them wisely, please don’t follow dump ass leaders. Those political prostitutes will spoil your dignity.
Nuer must learn or else they will finish themselves.
Nhomlawda
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
What are these confusions now? Is National Legislative Assembly of 382 or so honorable members separate from this Council of States? And if so what are the differences in their functions and whom do they represent?
Talking about lean government and having almost 500 members of parliament for a small population of around 12 – 14 million people is contradictory.
Something must be wrong somewhere in South Sudan ruling system.
I hope all these messes are to end after transitional period arrangement and should not continue to the next phase of nation’s building.
South Sudan needs one parliament for her tiny population.
Space
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
too much confusion. THESE post independent interim period will really be very difficult for people of South Sudan
jur_likang_a_ likan'g
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
Where is democracy here when people are appointed to represent the populace? I remember in eighties Moruhum Muruhum Dut Kany used to say SPLM/A was fighting burguouise class in Sudan. What is SPLM doing now? Has become a party of those they were fighting against initially? Sorry for the leaders of South Sudan!!
Good Citizen
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
i can’t understand the criteria of appointing members of the council of states! how many are from each state? and from each state, are they from different parties for diversity purpose? are they from different ethnic groups? It is a council of STATES ,isn’t it? why not appoint equal number of members from different ethnic groups to form House of Nationalities? the upper house should be the one represented by proportionality, is that hard Mr.president?
Josh
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
your president is idiot no much to say.
Lokeji
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
This man call kiir didn’t change totally, am really sorry to say so, because it’s really crazy to form a parliament of 382 or 500 members plus 50 members of council of states in a country of a population of 10 million according to 2008 sudan scenes result if am not mistaken.Pagan Amun was arguing some weeks back over Ebony tv that the annual budget of south sudan was $4 to $5 billion US dollars, now the question is how is the government going to pay these good for nothing MPs or friends of Kiir? why is mr Kiir is overloading the parliament and the budget of the state while other individuals are they one carrying out the work of parliament( john lok and his team)?
The southern sudanese plus their civil societies are to walk up before the infant state to be turn into a family cake to be shared by family members, good friends and loyalist.
twins
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
Josh
President is not initially idiot, but his advisors make him one. I believe that president listens to advisers just like every other president or human being. But if you look from 2006 to now, president is getting more idiotic. Why? Because his advisers always want to tell him what he would like to hear rather than what is good for South Sudanese. The reaseon is simple, president does not have pressure from his employer, which is SouthnSudanese in this case, that can compel advisers to think wisely. His vice president and everybody else flows just like river nile. But president will not realize his wrong way of governance till he senses fire on his skin.
Cuei Rooi
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
Mr nhomlauda.
you have seen what puzzled me since i heard about the council of state and the appointment of its speaker.its lead me to ask myself what kind of government is mr president trying to form.And by the way what modelities did mr president used getting these folks to that office.where they elected by the ordinary people or did he first degree their appointment as he usually does.
this is another form of corruptions and an organized looting of public funds.these suckers are going to get pay more then that soldier who is fighting in Abyiei right now.the man who not seeing his family for the national duty is getting 300 pound a month.this is ridicules.where is this country going?
Gatdet is being applauded for killing his own people recently in mayom county.where is justice?why is marial Nuor in jail if Gatdet is being given kisses and smiles welcoming back to juba.is he license to kill.Gatdet should have been greeted with hand-cup and throw behind bars where he belong.he is criminal.
Deng-monydit
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
what are the duties of these aging old stupid council going to do in the country?
Yic-Edu
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
President Salva Kiir is confusing us we citizens of South Sudan how can he appointed these expensives people in this young country. what rate is he going to pay them? from where is he going to get money? are we going to pay people on their seats or on their works? one time there will be declaration of assets, buildings, goats,cows, hens,pigs,lands,etc start from president Kiir upto the last man in South Sudan.
Andrew Ojok
Council of State delegates elect speaker, take oaths
To non educates
laughes enough can not change mind or lifes i’m aware of you all kickers people tend up back to the Goss but i think some of you been working their before but is their time precedent time to fires hopless/mindless to re-run the country with out the Bankcrupt or againt humanity